Credit-register.



J. J. SNYDER.

CREDIT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27, 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

WITNESSES:

UNITED JOHN J. SNYDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CREDIT-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial N 0. 834,576:

' To all whom it may concern.

Be it'known that I, JOHN J. SNYDER, a

of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of- Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Credit-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device in which duplicate copies of sales slips or accounts are to be filed and indexed.

The objects of my improvements are to roduce a sim lified credit register that can be manufactured at a minimum cost, and still be as effective and handy in its operation as the more expensive ones now being made. and a register in which a large number of sales slips can be filed in as small and compact a-space as possible, so the register may be placed in an ordinary sized safe, in order that the merchants accounts may be protected against loss by fire.

In the drawing Figure 1 shows the register in an operative position. Fig. 2 shows the construction of the removable index without the index cards in place on same. Fig. 3 shows the follow-stop, removed from the register. 4

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a view of the register in position ready for use, with the body 1. of the register resting in the inverted top 2 of the same. A represents index cards in the regv ister, between which the sales slips or accounts are filed.

Fig. 2 shows the construction of the removable index, without the index cards in place on same. The frame of the index 10 is preferably formed of one piece of metal. 11 are two spring steel wire guides on which the index cards aremounted, and which are attached rigidly to the frame at their lower ends but are not attached to the frame at their upper ends 12. in order that any one of the index cards can be removed and replaced by another card when necessary, by.

simply pulling the upper ends of the spring wires out a little from the frame. At 12 there are two round sockets drilled half way through the frame, for the ends of the spring wire guides to enter, so there is no interference or place for the cards to catch when operating the index. B shows the in dex cards in lace on the index frame. The index is operated by turning up and exposing to view any card desired for reference, the card or cards so turned upbeing held against the frame, and when these cards are released they fall back in place as shown in the drawing at B, because the upper end or arch of the frame leans forward just a little over the center ofgravity. In order that the index can be easily operated with the finger of one hand, the lower ends or lower portion of the cards extend down, outward and away from the frame, so that by pressing downward on any one card with one finger, the cards are separated at the place desired and are handil shoved up against the upper end or arch of the frame so as to be in view. WVhen the register is not in use and it is desired to place it in a safe for fire protection, the index B is simply lifted out of the register, as the two legs or standards 10 of the index are detachably engaged within the guideway 9. arranged at the rear corners of the register. When the index B has been removed from the register, the body of the register 1 is lifted out of the inverted top of the register 2, and the top put on the register, when the register is ready to be placed in a safe. The top is held in place at the front end of the register by the catch 3 provided on the body and engaging the staple 4 on the top member. 5 shows a handle on the front end of the register. \Vhen the top is on the register, it can be carried by the handle 5.

The register is operated in the following manner: The cards on the upper index B are indexed alphabetically. The name of each' erson having an account is written on these cards, each account having a number. The cards in the register A are indexed by numbers, (with the exception of a few cards in the front part of the register that are indexed by letters, for transient accounts) the numbers being located on little projections or ears, which can be removed from the cards, and below these projecting numbers the customers name and address is written across the top of-the card. To find any persons account, his name is first found on the close of the days business by simply lifting it out, when the register top can be put on the register and the register placed I in a safe. If the index should be destroyed by fire, the loss would be small, because the merchant could obtain another one and fill in the names of his customers and the respective numbers of their accounts; but if the register containing his accounts should be destroyed, his loss would be the same as having his day-book, journal and ledger destroyed; because the credit register system of handling accounts does away with bookkeeping; the duplicate sales slip of the customers last purchase or transaction is a statement of his-account showing his balance due totaled and brought forward to the time of his last purchase. I claim no invention as to the manner in which the accounts are handled in this register, and mention this point only to show the advantage of a register as small and compact as pos-- sible, so it can be placed in a small size safe. Fig. 3 shows the follow-stop removed from the register. 8"-8 is a rod which forms the upper part of the follow-stop, and 8 is a plate or shield forming a part of the follow-stop (preferably made of thin sheet .metal) against which the index cards lean and are prevented from falling forward in the register. he follow-stop is held in I place by the two projecting ends of the rod 8'".8 fitting in the half round bead or groove 6 on each side in the register, the two ends of the rod resting against the stops 7, intersecting each of the grooves 6. and which holdthe follow-stop firmly in place. The follow-stop is moved forward short spaces at a time as the sales slips increase, by first moi ing backward either end of the rod 8, and taking the follow-stop out, and replacing it again as desired. The shield or plate 8 of the follow-stop is made the proper length so that the bottom of it rests on the bottom of the register, so as to have it lean slightly and in the proper position for the index cards to lean against. The rod fi -8 alone, (which could be a straight rod, or curved downward in the middle to rest on the bottom of the register) would serve as a follow-stop, but I prefer the construction ',shown in the drawing; that is, the shield t'ached to a straight rod.

s follow-stop for the index cards oces the smallest possible space in the reg- .ister. 'This follow-stop is constructed so it messes can be removed from the register when the register becomes full of sales slips, thus providing more space in the register which can be utilized when necessary.

.From the foregoing. description, it is thought to be obvious that a credit register constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature andis particularlv well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptibl of some change and modification Without material departure from the principles'and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice, except as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention claim y 1. In an account register, a filing case for sales slips, index guide cards therein, and a separate index device removably secured to said filing case and consisting of a frame, two guide members attached at their lower ends to said frame, and index cards mounted on said guide members, said frame having a back portion with holes adapted to removably receive the upper ends of said guide members and to form a stop against which any portion of the group of index cards may be held while' referringto any particular card, said stop being in such a position that the cards fall downwardly into their lowermost positions when released.

2. In an account register, a filing case for sales slips, index guide cards therein, and a separate index device removably secured to said filing case andconsisting of a frame, two guide members attached at. their ends to said frame, and index cards mounted on said guide members, said frame having a back portion to form a stop'against which any portion of the group of index cards may be held while referring to any particular card, said stop being in such a position that the cards fall downwardly into their lowermost positions when released. a

* JOHN J. SNYDER. 

